Tomato NutritionAny Way You Slice It

Tomato nutrition can be best described as a rich source of antioxidants.

This fleshy red fruit helps us fight harmful free radicals in the body preventing disease and maintaining good health.

No matter how you slice it they are a welcomed addition to any healthy diet especially when it comes to weight loss.

Tomatoes are also a water rich food which contains an abundance of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C, E and potassium, but they are very rich in both beta-carotene and lycopene which are both antioxidants.

Just as the name implies these molecules fight the process of oxidation in our cells and tissues. Oxidation occurs when harmful free radicals exist in the body. Like when a car starts to oxidize it develops rusts unless we stop it with maintenance. You get the idea.

We can’t completely eliminate these free radicals as they exist in everything from the foods we eat to the air we breathe. But by consuming more foods that are rich in antioxidants we can fight those harmful free radicals off much better.

In other words they are vital to us because they help cleanse our bodies and maintain good health.

Studies have repeatedly shown that the benefits of tomatoes and other foods high in antioxidants play a big part in preventing many diseases such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems, skin conditions and many types of cancer.

More and more research proves that high levels of lycopene help prevent many types of cancers such as prostate cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, throat cancer and rectal cancer to name a few.

Tomato Nutrition:

Typical uses:

They can be enjoyed raw in salads, sandwiches and fresh juices or cooked in a variety of ways such as soups and sauces. Anytime a meal includes this juicy red fruit it helps provide us with tomato nutrition.

Meal Ideas:

Have you ever bought too many tomatoes and they just didn’t get used up in time. No problem, those plump round red little faces that are just helplessly looking at you can be put to good use.

There is nothing better than feeling creative and budget savvy by whipping up some tomato soup.

What the heck, just chop them up and make a meal. The kids love it too especially when you add a little garlic bread on the side.

Of course other popular meal ideas include the good old spaghetti with tomato sauce which can be enjoyed by the whole family.

A Helpful Tip:

Studies have shown that when you mix tomatoes with good fats the lycopene is more readily available and absorbed by the body. Good fats could include olive oil or the fats from an avocado that would be great when combined together in a salad.

Calories:

Not only does tomato nutrition focus on cancer and disease prevention but they are extremely low in calories makes them even more appealing when dieting. One medium sized ripe tomato averages about 25 calories and one cup of freshly chopped averages about 40 calories. Darn good.

My Favorite Diet Tip:

Drink a glass of tomato juice 20 minutes before your meal. The beverage is low in calories, high in benefits and fills you up so you can’t eat as much of the heavier foods. It is such a simple weight loss technique and it really works.

Final Note:

We have heard it time and time again that the tomato belongs to the fruit family and isn’t really a vegetable at all. I still can’t help but look at them as plump juicy vegetables. Oh well, it’s hard to teach an old dog new stuff, what can I say?